Police signaling system.



L. W. MILLER.

POLICE'SlGNAUNG SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23. 1911.

1,21 8,682. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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L. W. MILLERQ POLICE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, 19H.

1,21 8,682. 1 Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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LOUIS W. MILLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL POLICE SIGNAL COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

POLICE SIGNALING- SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar 13, 1917.

Application filed August 23, 1911. Serial No. 645,573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis V. MILLER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Police Signaling Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the rel ercnceuiumerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to electrical signaling or communicating systems, and it has for its particular object to provide a signaling system adapted to be used in cities and municipalities as a means of improving the police service, and it has for its primary purpose to provide means whereby police otiiccrs or roundsmen, when performing their usual duties on the beats ascribed to them, may be called or summoned from headquarters, or a precinct station. My invention also has for its object to provide means for recording accurately the exact time when any otficer reports at the various boxes or stations arranged on his beat, together with certain improvements in the arrangement of the central ollice apparatus whereby an oflicer may send in an emergency call, such, for instance, as the summoning of the patrol wagon, an ambulance, or the assistance of additional officers from any one of a plurality o't substations. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the preferred arrangement of service and the apparatus controlled thereby, constituting one embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. a similar view illustrating substation apparatus. I

Similar reference numerals throughout the several figures indicate the same parts.

In carrying out my invention I provide a central office apparatus which may be arranged atpolice headquarters, or a police precinct station, comprising apparatus such as shown in Fig. 1, which is duplicated for each of the substations of the system, said substations being distributed atv various points throughout a city, and comprising apparatus such as shown in Fig. 2.

The central station and the substations are connected by a pair of wires indicated by 1 and 2, which constitute when normally closed a telephone circuit, since each substation is provided with a telephone instrument A, while at the central station the main line conductors [lead directly to the answering jack B of the central otiice switch board, with which the central oflice operators cord circuit (not shown) will cooperate in the usual manner. The apparatus at the sl'lbstation, including the telephone A and other devices, which will be further described, are preferably arranged within a box or inclosure as will be understood, mounted upon a pole or some other suitable form of support. Also mounted onthe support and exterior of the box is the signaling apparatus comprising ringer A bridged in the main circuit and one or more lamps A preferably fed from a local electric light circuit and controlled by an elcctro-magnetic device such as a polarized relay C, also arranged in the main circuit. The switch. board at the central otfice is provided with a ringing key D for sounding the bells A, a key E for establishing conditions on the line Which will cause the lamp A at the substation to be lighted, and a releasmg key F for extinguishing this light,

the arrangement of the keys and the appa-' ratus controlled by them being such that either the audible signal may be sounded or the visual signal displayed at each box as desired, and discontinued at the volition of the central office operator. The switch board itseli is also provided with signals for the benefit of the central office operator,

so that the latter may not only determine in the first instance that each circuit is in perfect operating condition, but may also be advised when the policeman on the beat re sponds to the signal, and in the event the bells have been rung and the lights displayed at a plurality of boxes, these may be disconnected w ien the officer called answers him from any one of such boxes.

The emergency signal devices comprise a continuously operating bell or buzzer G- at the substation, set into operation by the closing of the push button on switch 9 and a similar device G at the central station,

which may be common to all of the substations and which is thrown into operation when conditions are established on the main line circuit by the closing of the push button switch 9. As it is important that calls of this character should not be overlooked or mistaken for any other call, these parts are arranged so that tests of the circuit may be quickly made, response given to the oliice'r despatching the emergency call, and the central oflice operator "satisfied that said call was not the result of accident, the cross ing of circuits, a broken. wire, or otherwise, as an emergency call in a system of this character is a matter which should be given preference over all others. Likewise, in responding to such a call, the central operator must be able to accurately determine from which substation the call was received to obviate errors in despatching additional oliicers, or sending the patrol wagon to the point from which the call originated. In describing the detailed arrangements of the apparatus and the layout of the circuits, it is again stated that the arrangement of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 represents the devices employed in conjunction with each substation. Of these substations there will be several arranged at ditlerent points on a patrolmans beat, those on each beat be-' ing termed sets, and there being as many sets of substations as desired. The main line wires 1 and 2 leading from each substation, lead to the corresponding answering jack B and the necessary operating keys on the switch board, these parts being preferably grouped on the switch board so that the substations in each particular set will be arranged for convenient operation and may be distinguished by switch board lamps of givencolors.

The line wires 1 and 2 are normally closed through the springs (Z and cl of the ringing key to the contacts (Z (Z from which lead the wires 1*, 2" to the sleeve and tip contact springs 7), 71 of the answering jack. The wires 1 and 2 have interposed in them condensers 1 and 2 which are provided as a means of preventing the central oilice operator from establishing a condition on the line whereby the call register mechanism can be operated otherwise than by the transmission of current impulses over the line circuit from the street boX. Current from the battery X normally flows through the circuit 1 and 2 being supplied thereto by taps 1, 2 connected to the wires 1 and 2, the main circuit being normally closed at the substation through the polarized relay C, the terminals of the windings of its coils being connected with the conductors 1 and 2 by wires 0, 0 The polarized relay is adapted to respond to a reversal of the current in the line .upon the operation of the switch board key E when it is desired to light the street signal lamp A and to this end the relay controls an armature 0 co operating with the contact 0 to close a oncult comprising wires 0?, 0 wh1ch are preferably fed with current of the proper volt age from a local electric light circuit represented by the generator A The polarized relay C constitutes a resistance sufiiciently high to normally prevent the energizing of the main line relay and the consequent operation of the time recording mechanism, as will be later described at length, but for the present it may be generally stated that these devices are actuated by a closing of the main line circuit to establish communication between the substation and the central oliice, which may be done by any suitable form of switch between the conductors 1 and 2, and in the present instance is accomplished through the telephone set A. The latter comprises the transmitter T and receiver R, the former being connected by the wires 25, t to a pair of contacts t 6 with which cooperate the contact springs 6 2f controlled by the receiver hook R. In Fig. 2 the main line conductor 1 is'shown as connected to the spring 25* by the wire 25, the conductor 2 be ing similarly connected by the wire 6 to the spring i The audible signal A is preferably an alternating current ringer, the coils of which are connected to the conductors 1 and 2 by the wires A A and in one of these wires is inserted a condenser A for preventing the flow of battery current through this branch circuit.

t the street box, or substation, the emergency or wagon call may be despatched by means of the key 9 normally arranged in the circuit of the wire 0 and engaging the back contact 0 and adapted when operated to engage the forward contact g. The key 9 when operated cuts out the coils of the relay C and removes their resistance from the main circuit, at the same time closing the circuit of the buzzer G, permitting the coil of the relay G to be energized to hold the buzzer circuit closed after the key has been released, thus permitting the buz zer to continue its operation and indicate to the patrolman the fact that the circult is in working order. The vibrations in the circuit established by the buzzer will also indicate to the central operator when he plugs into the jack B, the fact that on this circuit the emergency button or key has been actuated. ried out by arranging the buzzer G in a circuit comprising the wire G leading from the conductor 2, and the wire G leading through the contact springs G G, from which it is extended to the contact spring 9. The terminals of the relay G are connected by the wires G", G to the wires G G so that part of the current from the These features are car- I main line traverses said coil when the key g engages contact spring 9. This coil is provided with an armature G tied to the key 9" by the wire G and arranged to engage the spring G so that when said coil is energized its armature will be retained in attracted position after the key 9 hasbeen released, and until normal conditions on the line are restored.

Current is provided for operating the of ficers audible signal A by generator A, the brushes of which are connected with the back contact springs (P, (F of the ringing key D, and it will be noted that in the arrangement of these contacts the main line conductors 1 and 2 are disconnected from other parts of the apparatus when the ringing key is moved to connect the generator A and supply current to the signaling device A, but when the ringing key is in its normal position the main line is supplied with current from the battery X.

In a police signaling system it is necessary, to maintain the efficiency of the service and an accurate record of reports made to each substation by the oificers, that means be provided for recording upon a record sheet each and every call transmitted from a substation, and in the present instance this is accomplished by means of a time driven ruled record sheet, or chart, with which cooperates an electromagnetically operated punch or perforator, there being one of these for each substation as will be understood, each punch being controlled by the electromagnet H which will be energized whenever the'main line circuit is closed, either by an officer closing the switch contacts 25 t in the usual performance of his duty, or the despatching of an emergency signal by the operation of the key 9. 1

Now, in order to provide means whereby when an oflicer answers and responds either to the audible signal A or the visual signal A it will automatically operate the recorder H and extinguish the lamp A at the box or substation from which the call is an swered, I provide in the main circuit a main line relay I and a reversing relay J operating in conjunction with said relay and the keys E and F.

A magnet M is also provided in the main circuit for preventing the operation of the emergency signal G at the central station under normal conditions, and permitting it to be actuated only when the key 9 is pressed. Associated with this magnet is a secondary or sustaining magnet N, performing the same function during the operation of the keys E, F and D.

Another relay 0, similar to the relay J, is

arranged in a local circuit and adapted to be energized upon the operation of the main line relay I for the purpose of controlling certain contacts, and employed primarily for breaking the circuit of the punch magnet I-I af ter the latter has been energized, so that the ing by the wire 1 to the winding I, the

other terminal of which is connected to one side of the battery X by the wire 1. Similarly, a wire 2 leads to contact spring 2 resting against the contact 2 from which it is extended as indicated by 2 to one terminal of the winding I. The other extremity of this winding, instead of leading directly to the battery, is connected by the wire 2 to one end of the coil of magnet M, the opposite extremity of which is connected by'the Wire 2 to the battery X. The main line circuit may now be traced in Fig. 1 through the normally closed contacts on the ringing key D, similar contacts on the relay J, through the coils I and I, magnet M, to opposite sides of battery X; and in Fig. 2 through the coils of the polarized relay C, the normally closed contact g and 0 The current traversing this circuit is suiiicient to hold up the armatures of magnet M, but insufficient to actuate the armatures of the main line relay I, and by reason of the direction of flow of this current the armature C of the polarized relay C at the street box is held away from its contact 0 and the circuit of the signal lamp A is held open.

The pairs of contacts 1 1 and 2, 2 constitute springs on the reversing relay J, and when the latter is energized as will be subsequently explained, the springs 1 and 2 engage back contacts 1 and 2 the former being tied to the wire 2 by the wire 1 and the latter forming one terminal of the wire 1 and from this arrangement of contacts it will be seen that when the reversing relay is energized, current will flow over the main line in a directionopposite to that in which it flows when the springs'l and 2 are in normal engagement with the forward contacts 1 and 2.

The reversing relay J is actuated when 1 the key E is operated, but the circuit which controls it cooperates with the key E so thatend that an automatic operation is obtained to reverse the flow of current through the polarized relay C at the street box When a call has been answered at the box. The circuit arrangement by which these various operations of the relay J are effected is in detail as follows. One terminal of the coil J leads to one side of the battery as indi cated by j, while from the other extremity of said coil the wire 7' leads to the contact spring E of the key E which is normally disengaged from contact E into engagement with which it will be carried on operation of the key It. The circuit continues from the contact E to the other side of the battery over the wire A secondary circuit is established for holding the relay J in an energized condition, comprising a pair of springs arranged on the latter which are normally open, and are closed when the armature of said relay is pulled up. This relay circuit consists of wire 3' leading from the wire j to spring of key F normally engaging the contact 7", continuing by the wire 7' to the contact against which the armature j is carried by the operation of the relay J. From said armature leads the wire 7'7 carried to the contact 0 on relay O with which the spring 0 normally engages, the latter being connected to one side of the battery by wire j On movement of the key E contacts E, E are closed and the current flows through the relay J over the following circuit: battery X, wire j, relay J, wire j, contacts E, E wire j to the battery. The key E is then restored to its normal position, but as the relay J has pulled up its armatures and closed the contacts j, j the current traverses the following circuit: battery X, wire 7' spring 0, contact 0, wire f, contacts j, 3' wire y' contacts f, wires 7' j, relay J, wire j to battery. The energized condition of the relay J thus established is maintained until the main line relay is energized and the relay O is energized, which action opens the contacts 0, 0, breaking the circuit, and permitting the relay J to be restored to its normal position. When the key E is operated the pulling up of the armatures of the relay J .reverses the battery current coursing over the main line circuit, causing the signal lamp A to be lighted. The latter wil'l continue to burn until the normal condition of the line is re stored by releasing the relay J, either automatically by the operation of the relay O, which occurs when the receiver hook contacts are closed to cut out the resistance O, or manually by depression of the key F to separate the contacts 7", f.

The operating electro-magnets H of the time recording mechanism are each arranged in open circuits comprising the Wire 71, leading from one side of the battery, which may become common to all of the punch magnets, and is connected to one terminal of each of said magnets. From the other terminals of each of said magnets lead wires such as h which complete the circuit of said magnets by leading through a normally closed pair of contacts 0 0 on the relay O, and a pair of normally open contacts 2', t" on the line relay 1, so that when the relay I is energized the circuit will be closed through its corresponding magnet H. circuit of the relay O comprises the wires 0, O the latter leading through normally closed contacts 5 2' to the battery as indicated at O it will be seen, provides means whereby after the circuits of the recording magnets H have been energized they will be immediately opened by the energizing of the relay O, which will effect the subsequent opening of the circuit of said. n'iagnet H by separating the contact springs 0 0 The central oflice indicating mechanism for the emergency call comprises the signaling device G, which is preferably an audible signal, which is controlled primarily by the magnet M through the annunciator relay P having an armature p, which, when it is at-' tracted, releases the shutter or trip 37. The indicating device G, which may be a buzzer or bell, is arranged in a circuit comprising wires G G having contact G13 against which the shutter p rests when it is released, said shutter being connected with one pole of the battery by Wire G. One end of the coil of the relay P is connected by the wire p to the armature m of the magnet M which cooperates with contact spring m joined by the wire m with battery wire m which may be connected to all of the springs m of the various magnets M. Likewise all of the springs m of said relay may be united to the one wire 79 The circuit of relay P is completed by the wire 79 leading to the battery, when the main line circuit is opened by pressing the key 9 at the substation, which causes the magnet M to be deenergized, thus allowing connection to be made between the armature m and contact spring m to energize the relay P for the purpose of attracting the armature 7) to release the shutter or trip 1) and connect the buzzer l with the battery through the contact;

G and trip ,1).

Associated with each of the magnets M is a lamp Q, preferably of some distinguishing color, arranged in a circuit controlled by said relay, in such a way that it will perform the dual purpose of indicating when the street box lamp A is burning, and when the line circuit is broken and thus rendered inoperative. The circuit of the lamp Q comprises the wire 9 leading from the bat tery, and the wire q connected to contact spring Q2, which is normally held up by the armature of magnet M in engagement with contact 9 and which is also adapted to en gage the contact Contact 9 is connected by a wire Q5 with. wire 7" and contact 9 is connected by wire 9 with wire 7' Contacts and Q3 are normally held in engage- The This arrangement of circuits,

- receiver hook contact.

ment and when in this position the lamp Q will be lighted by the closing of the key E, the following circuit being then completed: battery, wire g lamp Q, wire q, contacts Q3, wires 9 j, contacts E, E wire 7' to battery. 7 tacts E, E as before desscribed, causes the reversing relay J to be actuated, whereupon the latter is locked up. At this time the following circuit is established which will continue to cause the lamp Q to burn: battery X, wire lamp Q, wire 9, contacts 1 Q3, wires 9 j, j, contacts f, f, wire 7' contacts 7' 9' wire 7' contacts 0, 0, wire j to battery. In the event themain line is open by a break in the circuit permitting the magnet M to become deenergized; then the spring 9 engages the spring 9 and the lamp Q, is lighted over the circuit leading from battery X by wire 9' contacts 0, 0, wires q, contacts g", g wire j, lamp Q, wire Q to battery.

To prevent the energizing of the relay P and the consequent operation of the signaling device G when either the lighting key E, the releasing key F, or the ringing key D, is operated, a secondary or sustaining magnet N is arranged in a circuit comprising contacts arranged on each of said keys, and also when the signaling circuit is used for telephonic purposes and the coil M is short circuited to remove its impedance and permit the main circuit to be properlybalanced through the coils I, 1". The complete circuit of coil N may be traced as follows: wire a leading from the battery to one terminal of the coil, wire 10 extending from the other terminal of said coil to the normally closed contacts a, n of key E, wire a leading to spring a on relay adapted to be engaged by spring a connected by wire a to battery 7' over which current is supplied to energize coil N during the time relay 0 is actuated; since the latter is maintained in an active condition while the main line circuit is closed at the A branch wire 11 leads from wire a to spring a of the releasing key F, which latter is adapted to move said spring into engagement with the contact. a connected by the wire n to the battery wire 7' This branch circuit retains coil N energized when the releasing key F is actuated to effect the movement of the armatures of the reversing relay J, during the movement of which the line circuit is temporarily open. Anotherbranch of this circuit comprises a wire a leading from branch wire a to contact a in ringing key D, this contact cooperating with the spring n of said key connected by the wire a to battery wire 1' and likewise provides means for retaining the coil N energized when the ringing key opens the main line cir cuit,

The closing of the con- 1 between the central The coil of magnet M is when the relay 0 pulls up, this being accomplished by means of wire at connected by the wire 2 and leading to the contact m, which is a back contact for the spring 0, of relay 0, and receives current from the battery wire 7' and feeds it directly to the wire 2 while the relay 0 is retained energized.

In a signaling system embodying my in vention, an officer on his beat may be signaled either during the day time or night" by a bell, a light, or both. The oiiicer in answering automatically restores the central office apparatus to its normal condition, extinguishes the light at the street box, and registers the exact time that he answered a call. Further emergency calls when sent in are registered, and both the ofiicer and central ofiice operator are advised that the lineis in working condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a'signal system, the combination with a central station, a plurality of substations and normally closed line circuits between the central and substations, of an emergency call device at central under the control of a central operator, means for actuating the emergency signal from one or another of said substations, mechanism at each substation for indicating to its operator the working condition of the circuit arranged to be actuated upon the operation of said means and to thereafter continue its actuated condition independent of the op-- eration of said means, and means at the central station adapted to be operated by the central operator to discontinue the operation of the substation indicating mecha- O nism, whereby the substation operator may know that the emergency signal has been received and answered by the central operator.

2. In a signal system, the combination with a central o'liice station, a plurality of substations and normally closed line circuits connecting the central and substations, of a central oiiice emergency call apparatus common to all of the line circuits, means at each substation for signaling central, other means at the substationfor lefiecting the operation of the emergency signal, of mechanism at the vcentral oilice for answering calls despatched by the first mentioned means which at such times prevents the operation of the central oflice emergency signal, and a call registering mechanism adapted to be operated over said circuits upon the operation of each substation operatingmeans-for-signaling-central including said emergency signal. r

'3. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a plurality of substations and normally closed line circuits and Substations, of an short ,circuited emergency call device at central which is maintained inoperative While the continuity of the line is maintained and is adapted to be actuated upon the opening of the line, a switch for opening the line circuit, and an indicating device at each substation adapt ed to be bridged to the line circuit and to be actuated continuously by current thereover when said switch is operated.

it. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a plurality of substations and line circuits connecting the central and substations, of an emergency signal at the central; station, means at each substation for establishing circuit conditions for actuating said signal and a responsive signal at each substation actuated by current on the line and rendered operative when said means is actuated for the purpose of indicating to the operator at the substation the operative condition of the line, said emergency signal and responsive signal being adapted to continue in operation independent of their actuating means.

5. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a normally closed line circuit provided With a resistance and a line relay, said resistance normally rendering the line relay inoperative, of a re cording mechanism, a relay controlling it having a circuit adapted to be closed by the line relay and a normally open bridge leading around the resistance and adapted When closed to effect the operation of the line relay.

6. In a signal system, the combination With a central station, an emergency signal and a normally closed main circuit having a magnet controlling the signal and pro vided With a line relay and a resistance normally rendering the line relay inoperative,

of a recording mechanism, a relay controlling it having a circuit adapted to be closed by the line relay, a sustaining coil for maintaining the emergency signal inoperative having a circuit adapted to be energized upon the operation of the recording mechanism relay and means for removing said resistance from the line circuit.

7. In a signal system, the combination with a centralstation, an emergency signal and a normally closed line circuit having a resistance imposed therein and provided in one side with a magnet normally rendering said signal inoperative of a double Wound line relay having its tWo coils arranged in opposite sides of the circuit, a recording mechanism, a relay controlling it provided with a circuit adapted to be closed by the line relay, a sustaining magnet for main taining the signal inoperative having a circuit adapted to be closed by the recording mechanism relay, a branch circuit for short circuiting the first mentioned magnet also adapted to be closed-by the last mentioned nism relay and sustainlng magnet.

S. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a substation and a normally closed line circuit connecting them, of a normally inoperative emergency signal at the central station and a coil controlling it arranged in the main circuit, an ollicers signal bridged to the main line at the substation and a source of current supply for operating it, sustaining coil for maintaining the. emergency signal inoperative, a circuit therefor and means for closing the latter, cutting out the first named coil and ap plying the source of current to the line to operate the otticers signal.

' 9. In a signal system, the combination With a central station, a substation and a normally closed line circuit connecting them, an emergency signal at the central station and an ol'licers signal at the station, of a magnet in the line for maintaining the emergency signal inoperative and a sustaining magnet for performing the same purpose, of a source of current for operating the ol licers signal, a switch in the line for disconnecting said magnet and connecting the source of current thereto to operate the ol'ficers signal, and a normally open circuit for the sustaining magnet adapted to be closed when the other magnet is deener the line circuit for operating said mecha nism, of an oflicer's signal bridged to the main line, a source of current for actuating the olilcers signal, a signal switch having sets of contacts adapted When operated to open the circuit through the magnet and relays and connect the source of current to the line, a sustaining magnet for maintaining the emergency signal inoperative having a circuit arranged to be closed by the signal switch-When the latter is operated. i

11. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a substation, a normally closed line circuit connecting them having a polarized magnet interposed therein and provided with an electro-magnet, of an emergency signal at the central station normally maintained in inoperative condition by the electro-magnet, a sustaining electro-magnet for the same purpose Which is normally deenergized, an oliicers signal arranged in a normally open circuit controlled by the polarized magnet and sets. of contacts in the line circuit for reversing the direction of the flow of current therein, a reversing relay for operating them, two switches each comprising two pairs of normally open and normally closed contacts, a circuit for the sustaining magnet leading through the closedcontacts of one switch and the open contacts of the other, and a circuit for the reversing relay leading through the other sets of contacts of said switches. V

12. In a signal system, the combination with a central station, a substation, a normally closed line circuit connecting them having a polarized magnet interposed therein and provided with an electro-magnet, of an emergency signal at the central station normally maintained in inoperative condition by the electromagnet, a sustaining elec- Copies of this patent may be tromagnet for the same purpose which is normally deenergized, an officers signal atthe substation controlled by the polarized magnet, mechanism for reversing the flow of current in the line circuit comprising a reversing rela switches comprising separate sets of normally open and normally closed contacts, a circuit for the sustaining magnet and reversing relay leading through said sets of contacts for the purpose of simultaneously energizing and deenergizing the sustaining magnet and reversing relay, said relay circuit having a branch holding circuit for retaining the relay circuit closed after it has been energized and until the relay circuit is opened.

LOUIS W. MILLER. Witnesses:

RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH, G. WILLARD RICH.

obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

